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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Fireman Randy going for blackmail?

We remarked earlier today that the cannon known as Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard has become looser and looser by the week. As if on cue, the good Fireman piped up with a stunning pronouncement at this morning's City Council meeting. Arguing for his wild plan to turn his water bureau minions into an armed posse, he seemed to imply that he had nonpublic dirt on the police bureau in the James Chasse homicide case that he would reveal to the world if the police didn't keep quiet about their misgivings about his water militia proposal. From the kids at the Merc:

"I have had experience of the bureau from being asked to conduct a study by Mayor Sam Adams, last year," said Leonard. "They have been insular and hostile to any suggestions. I could never ask a question or offer a suggestion, or propose an alternative. If, theoretically, the police bureau were running security at the Bull Run, and some incident occurred that I wanted a quick resolution of, and I hit a wall, as we have with the three-year inquiry into Mr.Chasse's death, it would be unconscionable to me."

Leonard said that's why he brought up Chasse's death today. "If the police commissioner and the police chief want to maintain their stance next week, I would be happy to expand on what I said today."

When people lose touch with reality, they can be dangerous. We've known for a long time that this was the case with Mayor Creepy. Unfortunately, it's rubbed off on a colleague, who now insists on putting his worst personal attributes on display on a regular basis.

Comments (17)

Randy reminds me of the kid from "Rushmore." So involved in every conceivable extracurricular club and organization at his school (many of which he had to invent himself) that he's failing out of the actual classes.

That a commisssioner would make these statements at a Council Meeting is beyond the pale. This is the same person who questioned Merritt Paulson's testimony at a recent Beaverton Council meeting by saying something to the effect of: "Doesn't he think anyone's listening?" Craaaaazzzzzyyyy.

Steve R,
You mentioned the Made in Oregon sign. The Oregonian wrote that, "Leonard said the sign is nationally and internationally known, helps people from across the globe identify Portland and brings economic value to the city in terms of tourist dollars."

You can take that last part 4 ways: First, someone in another country is deciding to travel here to see the sign.
Second, they were coming here anyway - maybe to see the tram - but when they saw the sign, it filled them with such joy that they spent more money here.

And the third way you can take it is that Randy has lost his friggin' mind.

The fourth way - suggested by Jack - is that Sam is rubbing off on him. These guys are so used to spinning visions that they've crossed over to a make believe world. Where their imaginations make it true.

This is interesting to me because it reminds me of the Middle East. Remember the Iraq minister who kept making incorrect statements in the face of the fall of Iraq? Everyone said he was lying, but he wasn't. It's a Middle Eastern thing where you are creating your own truth. George W had some of it. Cheney? No, Cheney was just lying.
Sam and Randy - when they start painting the picture for you - are clearly full of it as much as that Iraqi minister, but it's a different kind of lying here: it's wishful thinking on steroids. It's Happy Talk.

Under this system, anything you want is true: People in other countries ARE coming here to see the sign, and they ARE spending more because of the sign. If Randy feels it and says it enthusiastically enough, than it's as good as true.

In fact, it's better than the truth, because Randy's in a position to ACT on the information which means the money for the sign will probably be found. How can we not keep it going, when it's making us so much in tourist dollars?

We'd be crazy to deny all those people out there around the world who are - right this minute - making plans to travel to Portland to see the neon sign. And we are NOT crazy. Got that, everyone? We are NOT crazy.

At least when the King of Bavaria created his own truth and bankrupted his government, Germany got Castle Neuschwanstein in the process. Now, people really do travel to Germany to see the spectacle and spend their money there.

Leonard does have a point about the PPB having no oversight, especially with regards to use of force. Why is this (challenging the PPB) a crazy idea? You two are on the same page about that. I say go for it let the sparks fly.....

I don't think Randy wants to threaten PPD too much. The police have a few things on a few certain friends of Randy's plus maybe himself. But what he should be most concerned about if he wants to protect his bench mate Sam, is their info on Sam himself.

Could be some interesting backroom and front room fireworks. Keep jabbering, Randy. This town needs a cleansing, and save a recall vote.

Thanks for the link Jack. I'm going to start calling you "everyone's dad at the Bogdanski." It was a strange moment in council, though:

"This is the same person who questioned Merritt Paulson's testimony at a recent Beaverton Council meeting by saying something to the effect of: "Doesn't he think anyone's listening?" Craaaaazzzzzyyyy."

I think he made the comments because he knew people WERE listening. It's calculated brinksmanship designed to force Saltzman into a tight spot.

Leonard also went against the police commissioner yesterday afternoon on the publication of the city's secret list program, too. I'd love to read their christmas cards to each other this year.

Megalomaniacs with NOTHING keeping them in check. I can't believe these people run the city. I can see having a couple of nutjobs on an otherwise responsible council. But the nutjobs are now running the place.

I would love Randy to air the Chasse garbage just to finally get it in the light. But he's threatening to do it out of blackmail, not principle.

One thing we have to look forward to as a city: there is a 100% chance that Sam and/or Randy are going to flame out spectacularly, and in public. It will at least be fun to watch.

Though with our mayor surviving unscathed from lying about romancing a 17-year-old, having multiple houses foreclosed on, and announcing, backing down from, and reannouncing innumerable costly boondoggles, one has to wonder what it takes for a politician to finally burn out in this city.

I wonder what the US Forest Service thinks of this proposal to have Randy's private arming running around the watershed - federal land. Has Randy even bothered to ask them? I think that area is actually the jurisdiction of the Sheriff. This thing sounds incredibly ill-conceived. Why don't they just hire Wackenhut? No PERS pensions there.

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 155
At this date last year: 241
Total run in 2015: 271
In 2014: 401
In 2013: 257
In 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269